A federal lawsuit is targeting a rollback of MaineCare benefits championed by Gov. Paul LePage that eliminated coverage for about 500 legal immigrants last year.

The lawsuit by Maine Equal Justice Partners and the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine Foundation was filed Thursday on behalf of a Fort Fairfield man who lost his health care benefits while battling cancer. It also seeks class status for an estimated 500 others who lost coverage.

Last June, lawmakers voted to impose a five-year waiting period for legal immigrants living in Maine to qualify for MaineCare, the state's version of Medicaid.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to restore benefits for 65-year-old German national Hans Bruns and others like him who aren't U.S. citizens while the changes are challenged.